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Prophet Musa AS who confronted tyrant of his time

Prophet Musa was asked by GOD to go on mission to face the tyrant pharaoh of his time with divine miracles, support for the endovour

Translation of Surah Taha (20:25-54)

25. [Moses] said: “My Lord! Open for me my chest (grant me self-confidence, courage, and contentment).”

26. “And ease my task for me;”

27. “And loosen the knot from my tongue,”

28. “That they may understand my speech.”

29. “And appoint for me a helper from my family,”

30. “Aaron, my brother;”

31. “Increase my strength with him,”

32. “And let him share my task,”

33. “That we may glorify You much,”

34. “And remember You much,”

35. “Indeed, You are ever seeing of us.”

36. [Allah] said: “You have been granted your request, O Moses.”

37. “And indeed, We conferred a favor on you another time [before],”

38. “When We inspired your mother with that which was inspired,”

39. “Saying: ‘Place him in a chest and cast it into the river, and the river will cast it onto the bank; there an enemy to Me and an enemy to him will take him.’ And I cast upon you love from Me that you may be brought up under My eye.”

40. “When your sister went and said: ‘Shall I direct you to someone who will take care of him?’ So We restored you to your mother that her eye might be cooled and she would not grieve. And you killed a man, but We saved you from distress, and We tried you with various trials. Then you stayed a number of years with the people of Midian. Then you came [here] according to a decree, O Moses.”

41. “And I have chosen you for Myself.”

42. “Go, you and your brother, with My signs, and do not slacken in My remembrance.”

43. “Go, both of you, to Pharaoh, for he has indeed transgressed all bounds;”

44. “But speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allah].”

45. They said: “Our Lord! Indeed, we fear that he may hasten [punishment] against us or that he may transgress.”

46. He said: “Fear not. Indeed, I am with you both; I hear and I see.”

47. “So go to him and say: ‘Indeed, we are messengers of your Lord, so send the Children of Israel with us and do not torment them. We have come to you with a sign from your Lord. And peace be upon him who follows the guidance.”

48. “Indeed, it has been revealed to us that the punishment will be upon whoever denies and turns away.’”

49. [Pharaoh] said: “Who then is the Lord of you two, O Moses?”

50. He said: “Our Lord is He who gave each thing its form and then guided [it].”

51. [Pharaoh] said: “Then what is the case of the former generations?”

52. He said: “The knowledge thereof is with my Lord in a record. My Lord neither errs nor forgets.”

53. [He is the One] who has made for you the earth as a cradle and threaded for you therein pathways and sent down water from the sky, and We brought forth thereby pairs of various plants—

54. Eat and pasture your cattle. Indeed, in this are signs for those of understanding.

Tafsir (Commentary) from Tafheem-ul-Quran

Verses 25-28: Moses’ Prayer for Courage, Ease, and Eloquence

  • Verse 25: Moses prays, “Open for me my chest,” meaning to fill his heart with courage and confidence to fulfill the great mission of prophethood. He recognized the immense responsibility of confronting Pharaoh, a powerful tyrant. This prayer reflects his humility and reliance on Allah.
  • Verse 26: “Ease my task for me” is a request for Allah to make his mission manageable, acknowledging the trials and opposition he would face.
  • Verses 27-28: Moses asks for the “knot” in his tongue to be loosened, referring to a speech impediment. The Quran confirms he was not initially fluent, and Pharaoh later taunted him for this (Surah Az-Zukhruf, 43:52). Moses sought clarity in speech to effectively convey Allah’s message to Pharaoh and his courtiers. Maududi refutes the Talmudic story that Moses burnt his tongue as a child, calling it absurd, and emphasizes that Allah would not appoint a stammerer as a messenger. Later, Moses’ speech became eloquent, as evidenced by his speeches in the Quran and Bible.

Verses 29-35: Request for Aaron’s Assistance

  • Moses requests Aaron, his older brother (by three years, per Exodus 7:7), as a helper to strengthen and share his mission. He notes Aaron’s fluency (Surah Al-Qasas, 28:34), which would complement his own efforts. The purpose is to glorify and remember Allah abundantly, showing their devotion. Maududi highlights that Moses’ request reflects his understanding of the mission’s magnitude and his need for support. Allah’s response, “You are ever seeing of us,” underscores divine oversight and care.

Verse 36: Allah Grants Moses’ Request

  • Allah accepts Moses’ prayers, granting courage, ease, eloquence, and Aaron’s assistance. This immediate divine response reassures Moses of Allah’s support.

Verses 37-41: Allah Reminds Moses of Past Favors

  • Allah recounts favors bestowed on Moses since birth to emphasize divine care:
  • Verses 37-39: Allah inspired Moses’ mother to place him in a chest and cast it into the river, ensuring his safety. Pharaoh, an enemy to both Allah and Moses, took him in, but Allah cast love upon Moses, ensuring he was raised under divine protection.
  • Verse 40: Moses’ sister facilitated his return to his mother, sparing her grief. Later, Moses unintentionally killed a man but was saved from distress. He spent years in Midian, facing various trials, before returning as per Allah’s decree.
  • Verse 41: Allah declares, “I have chosen you for Myself,” signifying Moses’ selection as a prophet, prepared through divine providence.

Verses 42-44: Mission to Confront Pharaoh

  • Allah commands Moses and Aaron to go to Pharaoh with His signs, urging them to remain steadfast in remembering Allah. They are instructed to speak gently to Pharaoh, despite his tyranny, in hopes he might heed or fear Allah. Maududi notes this reflects the prophetic approach of combining firmness with compassion.

Verses 45-46: Moses and Aaron’s Fear and Allah’s Reassurance

  • Moses and Aaron express fear of Pharaoh’s potential aggression or transgression. Allah reassures them, “I am with you both; I hear and I see,” guaranteeing divine protection and support. This strengthens their resolve to confront Pharaoh.

Verses 47-48: Message to Pharaoh

  • Moses and Aaron are to declare their prophethood, demand the release of the Children of Israel, and warn Pharaoh of punishment for denial. The phrase “peace be upon him who follows the guidance” emphasizes the universal offer of salvation to those who accept the truth.

Verses 49-52: Dialogue with Pharaoh

  • Verse 49: Pharaoh questions, “Who is the Lord of you two?” challenging their authority.
  • Verse 50: Moses responds that their Lord is the Creator who gave everything its form and guidance, a concise yet profound statement of tawhid (monotheism).
  • Verse 51: Pharaoh asks about the fate of past generations, likely to mock or test Moses.
  • Verse 52: Moses replies that such knowledge is with Allah, recorded perfectly, as Allah neither errs nor forgets. This underscores divine omniscience and justice.

Verses 53-54: Allah’s Signs in Creation

  • These verses are an addition by Allah to Moses’ response, serving as an admonition. They describe Allah’s creation: the earth as a cradle, pathways for travel, rain from the sky, and diverse plants for sustenance. These are signs for those with understanding, urging reflection on Allah’s power and provision. Maududi notes that such divine insertions in the Quran connect to the broader context of the speaker’s message, here reinforcing Moses’ call to recognize Allah’s sovereignty.

Notes on Maududi’s Approach

Maududi’s tafsir in Tafheem-ul-Quran emphasizes the historical and spiritual context of these verses, highlighting Moses’ humility, divine favor, and the universal relevance of the message. He contrasts the Quran’s dignified portrayal of prophets with the Bible and Talmud, which depict Moses as reluctant or argumentative. Maududi also addresses contemporary issues, making the tafsir relevant to modern readers by connecting Quranic guidance to personal and societal challenges.

If you need further details or specific aspects of the tafsir expanded, let me know!